Comparative pressure measurements in the oesophagus by means of in situ tip-transducers and external transducer systems.

Basal gastro-oesophageal sphincter pressures and peak peristaltic pressure amplitudes in the oesophageal body 5 and 15 cm proximal to the gastro-oesophageal sphincter were measured with three different set ups in six healthy volunteers. The in situ tip-transducer measurements were compared to two different external pressure transducers in a perfused catheter system and to an external pressure transducer in a non-perfused catheter system. The in situ tip-transducer recorded higher sphincter pressures and peristaltic amplitudes than those recorded by the perfused and non-perfused systems (P less than 0.01). There was no difference between the pressures recorded by perfused systems in conjunction with the different external transducers. The perfused systems recorded sphincter pressures higher than those recorded by the non-perfused systems (P less than 0.02 and P less than 0.01), whereas the non-perfused system recorded higher peristaltic pressure amplitudes than those recorded by the perfused systems (P less 0.01 and P less than 0.01). The importance of the bend of the in situ tip-transducer was shown experimentally. It is concluded that the ideal system for recording oesophageal pressures is a perfused catheter set-up with minimal compliance. The probe with three side holes at the same level ensures registrations of the lowest occlusion pressure at the measuring point.